Chelsea will NOT be taken seriously as contenders if they fail to fix glaring issue, writes KIERAN GILL after Blues make a mess of straightforward Carabao Cup win at Wolves

Chelsea cannot be taken seriously until they prove they can play for 90 minutes.

Don’t like facing five defenders, ey? Try this on for size, then, Enzo. After Maresca’s comments regarding how much he hates it when opponents surprise him by suddenly playing a back five, Vitor Pereira went one further. He named six defenders in his Wolves XI.

He started Matt Doherty, Yerson Mosquera, Emmanuel Agbadou, Toti Gomes, David Moller Wolfe and Jackson Tchatchoua – defenders all. It was as if Pereira had a healthy sense of humour.

Wolves’ defensive set-up was no obstacle for Maresca initially. Chelsea led 2-0 after 15 minutes, and 3-0 at half-time. It was at this stage that you felt the Molineux faithful could have concocted a new chant, something like: ‘Six at the back, slow in attack, Pereira is asking for the sack.’

Then the complacency kicked in as, not for the first time, Maresca’s side showed how much they struggle to play a game of football for 90 minutes. It was worrying how they allowed Wolves back into this clash, as if they have not learned lessons from their mistakes in previous matches.

We saw the worst of Chelsea in the second of the three goals they conceded needlessly here. That came from a long throw-in, no authority shown in their own area, and David Moller Wolfe being left unmarked at the back of the six-yard box to smash the ball beyond Filip Jorgensen.

If Chelsea want to be taken seriously as competitors, they cannot continue to make a mess of matches like this. They won, but only a wonder-strike from Jamie Gittens against the worst side in the Premier League sent them into the Carabao Cup’s quarter-finals.

Delap adds name to red-card roll call

Delap’s daftness levels off the charts as Blues receive SIXTH red card in nine games

Liam Delap waited since August to return from his hamstring injury, 60 days in total.

He came on in the 61st minute, was shown his first yellow in the 79th for giving Mosquera a shove, and then his second in the 86th for crashing into Agbadou. The Wolves defender may have made a meal of that collision, but it was not the type of challenge you make while on a caution.

Delap can have no complaints. None whatsoever. He was naive, petulant, rash, and he is suddenly suspended for Chelsea’s Premier League trip to Tottenham on Saturday. He might not have been fit enough to start that match, but now he will not play any part in it whatsoever.

This made it six red cards in nine games in all competitions for Chelsea, including the one shown to Maresca for the way he celebrated that stoppage-time win over Liverpool.

The Blues boss may like to tell us that his side do not have a discipline problem. A few of his players have reiterated the same in mixed zones. But their record says otherwise.

Chelsea’s players have an internal fine system. It is overseen by Reece James as captain and his deputies. Already they must be able to afford one hell of a Christmas party.

Gittens shows his worth

Gittens now showing why Chelsea signed him

Anyway, enough negativity. Chelsea won, and their best performer by some margin was Gittens.

It took him time to find his feet after signing from Borussia Dortmund for £48.5million rising to £52m, but the 21-year-old is showing why they identified him now.

With Gittens assisting and Tyrique George scoring, Chelsea’s second goal was near enough a copy and paste of the one we saw from England’s Under 21s against Andorra two weeks ago.

It started with a Gittens step-over with his right leg and a pass inside with his left foot, and ended with George applying the finish. It is a nice understanding those two youngsters are developing for club and country, though how long they will be at Chelsea together, we cannot say.

The Blues are planning on speaking with George closer to January to decide his future, with the 19-year-old academy graduate to have a big say in whether he stays or goes.

George nearly left in the summer as a £22million deal had been agreed with Fulham. It only collapsed when the Cottagers strangely abandoned the transfer in the final few minutes.

It was George’s decision to leave, and Daily Mail Sport can reveal Joe Shields, Chelsea’s co-director of recruitment and talent, phoned the player on the evening of deadline day to explain how he should not feel awkward coming back to Chelsea. Rather, he was welcome to return.

This was George’s third start of the season – two coming in the Carabao Cup and one in the Champions League – but he knows greater game time may lie elsewhere. A big decision needs making before that winter window. For now, Gittens will continue to try to feed George while they are both in the same side. Gittens picked up two assists here and topped it all off with a screamer.

Brazilian wonderkid pushing for Prem berth 

Elite Estevao pushing for a Premier League start

Chelsea supporters would like to see Estevao Willian starting in the Premier League and taking his goal as nicely as he did here, with an exquisite chip over Jose Sa, can do his chances no harm.

The 18-year-old Brazilian was used on the right wing, which is where Pedro Neto has impressed, but he is making his case for starting centrally. While Joao Pedro is better when used as a No 10 than a No 9, he has been struggling for form and fitness of late.

Estevao’s substitution after 61 minutes may have been partly because he was on a yellow card, but also with Saturday’s significant trip to Tottenham in mind. It was Delap who replaced him.